With attendance from neighboring communities, various faith and youth groups, the Rockville City Police Department and Montgomery County Executive Office, the day began with guests being welcomed to the Gurdwara and receiving a free information package about Sikhs. This was followed by a personalized tour of the Gurdwara and the opportunity to participate in turban tying which many guests enjoyed and learned much from.

Indian American Sikh Pardeep Singh Kaleka (right) and reformed racist Arno Michaelis, who bonded in the aftermath of a 2012 shooting at a Wisconsin Sikh gurdwara, spoke out against hate crimes at a Dec. 13 congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. (Sikh Coalition/Facebook photo)

“Given the increase in hate crimes and hate crime threat against various communities in America, the time for urgent action is now,” said Kaleka and Michaelis. “From governments to advocacy groups to individuals, we all have a role to play in creating a more peaceful world.”

"The vigil was to honor the souls who lost their lives in the Las Vegas shooting, remind us how precious life is, how senseless gun violence is and that we need to work together to make change happen," said Jasvir K. Singh